SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
https://hackaday.com/2023/01/05/excuse-me-your-tie-is-unzipped/
If you ask your typical handyperson what's the one thing you need to fix most things, the answer might very well be duct tape. But second place — and first place in some circles — would have to be zip ties. These little wonders are everywhere if you look for them. But they are a relatively recent invention and haven't always had the form they have today.
The original zip tie wasn't called a zip tie or even a cable tie. In 1958 they were called Ty-Raps and produced by a company called Thomas and Betts. Originally meant to improve aircraft wiring harnesses, they found their way into various electronic equipment and packaging uses. But they've also become helpful in very unusual places too. A policeman trying to round up rioters would have problems carrying more than a few conventional handcuffs. But flexible cuffs based on zip ties are lightweight and easy to carry. Colon surgeons sometimes use a modified form of zip tie during procedures.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 08, @02:45PM
Are zip ties really much stronger? The heavy duty plastic or even steel zip ties could be stronger. But the normal ones? Those twist ties are often with a steel core 0.4-2mm in diameter. The skinny ones are weak but the thicker ones can be quite strong. A 1mm steel wire can take a fair bit before it breaks.
250MPa x pi x 0.4mm x 0.4mm = 125 newtons = 30 pounds
250MPa x pi x 1mm x 1mm = 785 newtons = 176 pounds
Random Googled site seems to say normal zip ties go up to 50 pounds.
https://www.nelcoproducts.com/blog/cable-ties-tensile-strength/ [nelcoproducts.com]